Floating booms as effective means of oil spill response

Abstract

Floating booms as effective means of oil spill response

Mal'tseva T.A., Popova O.V.

Incoming article date: 14.11.2016

The statistics of accidents is given in the oil industry. It is shown that the considerable share of accidents in the oil industry is connected with oil transportation and is followed by its spills. Among the known methods of elimination of oil spills application of various types the floating booms in combination with use of new materials and technologies remains to the most perspective and ecologically safe. The floating booms serve for the prevention of distribution of oil on the water area, for simplification of its removal from a surface of the water, and also for utilization of oil on a water surface. In case of fire the oil spill occurs retention it within the boom. The features of the application, relevant structures and elements of floating booms, ways to improve them as the primary means of oil spill response, the effectiveness of the floating booms are considered.

Keywords: oil facilities, accident statistics, water area, emergency oil spill, oil spill response, floating boom, sorbing boom, fire-resistant boom, boom operation efficiency.